After a few months of daily poeming (and so much to show for it in terms of the new collapsologies manuscript) I've been taking a momentary break before moving on to the next thing. It would help immensely of course if I knew what the next thing was, but right now I'm treading water in the uncertainty of it--notes in my notebook about things I'd like to write or research, formats I would like to play with. Stories I would like to tell. I've been dipping a toe back into some visual exploits, including some design stuff and postcard collages for my Patreon. It's slow, but it's a start. Maybe some of those will lead to writing. Or writing will lead to new artwork.
It feels like a weird time to be making plans, once again with the contingency that the world may be on much tighter lockdown at some point during the next few months. This feels more apt at the Library, where everything--exhibits, programs--is being planned dually, both on the walls and on the web. We are holding in there, and most of my days are filled now with ILL flow, which has ticked up a bit. Obviously, timewise, whether I am homebound or not shouldn't affect more creative work that much (if anything I gain back a few hours in the hustling to and fro) but if March & April is any indication, a world in turmoil (or more tumultuous than the past couple of months) blows a huge hole in motivation and concentration. It took til the end of May to get back to any sort of routine. I still, outside of the dgp manuscripts, have a hard time reading for enjoyment.
I'm thinking of holding off on starting something new until at least the election has passed and we are into November. I have no idea what the world will like or where, and if, my concentration will hold. I have a couple zine projects I'd like to get out that month for the books & objects series, but otherwise am wide open in creative endeavors. There are a couple things I have my eye on for the automagic project, some orphan series I started and haven't meandered back to. But a break feels good right now. I've been spending my breakfast writing time instead queuing up Halloween posts and posting to socials, and just lingering in bed a bit longer than I usually do before clamoring into the shower.
